JasonB wrote:leopold wrote:Right???
God forbid we actually talk about possibly the best team we have coming back in the last 35 years...
I'll play... ++, +, Neutral, -, -- scale
WR: ++ last year before Roberson got hurt, then went to +. I thin there is a good chance we are ++ this year.
QB: ++ last year, ++ this year
RB: + last year. Neutral this year, but potential for better. Need to see in the fall.
TE: + last year. Potential for ++ this year.
OL: Last year: +, N, +, -, N. This year I think you start with +, +, +, N, N, with the potential of higher upside.
Overall offensively, I think we will be a bit better. More consistent. On outsider would look at the loss at RB and Proche and think we will get worse.
DL: DE last year + because of Scott. Enough players played that I would put us at N right now, with potential for better. DT last year overall. Lost a lot, but Williams and maturity I think we are at worst N, more probably a +. So, overall DL is going from + to N, with upside potential.
LB: MLB last year + when Moore was healthy. Once hurt, we were + against run - against the pass. Moore coming back puts us + again. OLB: Last year N with Robinson, - when hurt. This year N unless someone takes a big step. Star/Fox/Whatever: Nelson was a + (++ in blitz, N or - in pass coverage which is why he didn't get drafted). I'll put N for now for Jones/Denbow, but that could have bigger upside. Overall, the group is a N unless Moore stays healthy and two players step up.
CB: When healthy, Stephens and Johnson were probably +, but Johnson played hurt a lot and dropped back the second half and the backups are below average. So overall, maybe an N, and - at times. Coming into this year, N because of the depth situation, but there is room for Johnson and Stephens to be significantly better and backups to be better.
S: Denbow - and Clemons +, so you average out at N if you are generous. Replace both this year, so you almost have to assume a - going into camp, but there is a lot of potential here to be at least N and maybe even +.
So, defensively, from an outsider's persepctive, you lost your best DE, your best DT, your Star who made plays, and your safeties. So, an outsider should assume we are going to take a massive step back defensively. There is a lot of potential upside defensively, but we won't really know until we see everyone at camp.
K/P: -- last year. We hope the transfer at least gets us to N.
So, while I share your optimism coming into the season, because I really like our newcomers as well as the kids growing into their roles... I understand why outsiders look at the team and see the offense taking a small step back and the defense getting considerably worse. Hence the 7 win season predictions and the odds against us beating TCU.
I would wait until the second week of fall camp before I place my bets.